Sarah + Markus

Cozy NC Mountain Wedding Getaway

Sarah and Markus got married in the late spring at the gorgeous Inn at Crestwood. This lovely NC mountain wedding venue is a retreat close to Boone, NC. After winding up and down several roads, we arrived to be greeted by a breathtaking overlook of endless sky and mountain forests. We have been overjoyed with excitement and anticipation of Sarah and Markus’ wedding day and they certainly did not let us down.

An intimate gathering

Family is incredibly important to Sarah and Markus and it was their goal to incorporate new and old walks of life in every aspect of their day. The day began with Sarah relaxing in the spacious bridal suite with a view. She had her sweet pup, Leo by her side to ensure the preparations went along smoothly. Leo looked absolutely dapper in his dog tuxedo and suddenly I felt underdressed for the occasion.

Their wedding party consisted of their brother, sister, cousins, and of course, Leo. They surrounded themselves with this handful of close folks because they mean the world to them and wanted to share in joining together with them.

In remembrance.

I admit it, I lost it a little when I saw how Sarah and Markus incorporated their deceased grandparents and great grandparents. They placed gorgeous picture frames of their grandparent’s photos on the front row in order to remind them and feel their presence while they say their “I do’s.” Sarah also wrote a sweet message on a balloon and released it into the sky. The feeling of peace and serenity were serene as the balloon floated away beyond sight. What was even more awe-inspiring was the fact that the balloon strategically dodged every single tree branch it might have encountered. A sign of good luck for sure.

Written on my heart.

Every. Single. Time. Every single time a couple hand writes their vows, I lose it, fall in love, and feel overjoyed. These two were, of course, no exception. The sweet, loving words they wrote for one another went deeper than reasons for loving another. They expressed how the other has acted as almost a savior and nurtured their heart when they needed it the most. Thank you, so much, for writing these words and for sharing them with us and the world. It is a constant, uplifting reminder of the love shared by couples on their wedding day and throughout their marriage.

Play ball!

As a baseball coach, it was important for Markus to incorporate his love of the game. He invited a few of the guys from the team he coaches and their cocktail hour featured a variety of goodies from the great American sport. No ball game is complete without buttered popcorn, salted pretzels, and a juicy hot dog. Fans (wedding guests) were delighted to take a quick break for a snack at the old ball game. I mean, wedding ceremony day thingy.

Swept away.

We stole Sarah and Markus away into the woods. Well, it was more so their idea, but we happily obliged. Just up the road was a gorgeous opening in the woods. This immaculate scenery paired with one of my trusty Russian lenses made for the perfect dreamy, ethereal scene. What you won’t see in the video are the endless swarms of mosquitoes. Itchy, but totally worth it.

Let them eat cake.

The dessert ya’ll. The dessert had me from the second it arrived. The sweet smell of strawberries and sugar infused frosting coated my nostrils and it was all downhill from there. What really impressed me (beyond the incredible display) was the adorable, sweet gesture of making a special cake just for Sarah’s father. You see, he is a rice crispy addict and Sarah had an entire rice crispy cake made just for his enjoyment. Now that’s sweet. Get it?

Well the sun is reclining into is night position and the dancing is coming to an end. Let’s wrap this post up with a few more of my favorite parts of Sarah and Markus’ wedding extravaganza.

Shake it like a Polaroid picture.

In lieu of a boring old guestbook, attendees were able to snap a pic with a Polaroid camera, then autograph it to ingrain their smiling faces in the hearts of Sarah and Markus.

Gifts are always appreciated.

I like gift baskets, but nowhere near as much as Amanda loves them. Sarah won over Amanda’s heart for eternity with the lovely, thoughtful gift basket given to all the guests. It featured items from Sarah’s home state of Vermont, as well as from the great state of North Carolina. Not to mention, the basket was handmade by Sarah’s dad. Go dad!

Something old and blue.

Sarah’s bouquet featured a gorgeous golden bee brooch with blue wings and was also wrapped in a portion of her mother’s wedding dress. It is always a delight to see brides use the elements of their families history to adorn their wedding accessories.

If I could just live in the moment of this mountain sunset, I think I would be just fine. Thank you so much, Sarah and Markus, for allowing us to be a part of your special day. We were thrilled to share every moment by your side and hope this wedding film gifts you a lifetime of memories.